Kids Week : Free Tickets

      , ,   No comments
Tickets on sale June 9th at 10 am

Kids Week gives children 17 and under the chance to see top West End shows for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult from July 20th – August 31st.  Up to two additional children can attend for half-price with each adult ticket:

Choose from 60 popular productions, including :

  • Come Alive!  The Greatest Showman*
  • The Devil Wears Prada*
  • Harry Potter and The Cursed Child*
  • Hot Mess A New Musical*
  • Les Miserables
  • The Lion King*
  • Mamma Mia!*
  • Matilda the Musical*
  • The Mousetrap*
  • My Neighbor Totoro*
  • Phantom of the Opera
  • The Play that Goes Wrong
  • Showstopper!  An Improvised Musical
  • Six
  • The Tiger Who Went to Tea
  • Wicked*
  • Witness for the Prosecution

    • *These productions also offer free exclusive extras, including acting, dancing, puppetry, singing, and storytelling workshops, as well as special Q&A sessions.

    Tickets are in high demand, so it's worth planning ahead.  Have a few preferred show sand dates before tickets go on sale.

    With no booking, postage, or transaction fees, tickets sell out fast.  For the best selection, be ready to book online when sales open on Tuesday, June 9th at 10 a.m. 

    Good luck — and enjoy the show!
    www.officiallondontheatre.com/kids-week

    Last Chance — London Box Office Sale

          , ,   No comments

    Tickets starting at £7 / seat

    Just before the popular Kids Week promotion kicks off on Monday, there are discounted London Box Office tickets starting as little as £7.  Top award-winning shows include:

    • The Devil Wears Prada (£24) — starring Vanessa Williams, WhatsOnStage Award winner for Best New Musical and Best Performer
    • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (£29) — nine Olivier Awards, the most in the history of the awards
    • Kinky Boots (£15) — winner of three Olivier Awards returns to West End
    • Matilda The Musical (£24) — seven Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical
    • Mousetrap (£20) — Olivier Award for Special Recognition to celebrate its theatrical legacy as the world's longest running play
    • My Neighbour Totoro (£18) — six Olivier Awards and five WhatsOnStage Awards for puppetry, set design and direction
    • Oh, Mary! (£35) — two-time Tony Award winner transfer from Broadway to the West End
    • The Play That Goes Wrong (£24) — Olivier Award winner for Best New Comedy
    • Showstopper!  The Improvised Musical (£20) — winner of Olivier Award for Best Entertainment and Family Show — first completely unscripted, improvised show to be nominated and win
    • Titanique (£20) — winner of two Olivier Awards, including Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play
    • War Horse (£30) — winner of two Olivier Awards, including Best Set Design and Best Theatre Choreographer

    Book now before the sale ends Sunday!
    www.londonboxoffice.co.uk

    Queen Elizabeth II : Her Life in Style, Part II

          , ,   No comments

    Although most of Her Majesty's life has been in the public eye, even her off-duty outfits make a distinct fashion statement.

    Off-Duty & Ready-to-Wear
    Practical countryside attire included suede jackets, tweed skirts, knitwear, and headscarves — balanced function with understated elegance.

    British Fashion on the Global Stage
    Throughout her 70-year reign, the Queen’s overseas tours showcased British design while honoring host nations:
    • Cherry Blossom Evening Dress (1975, Japan) — Draped sleeves inspired by kimonos, embroidered with sakura (spring blossoms).
    • Evening Dress (2011, Ireland) — Silk gown adorned with shamrocks and a crystal harp.
    • Pink Peonies Evening Dress (1986, China) — Featuring beadwork forming peonies and vertical motifs.
    Eveningwear: The Glamour of the Monarchy
    As head of state, the Queen’s gowns for banquets and receptions were both elegant and highly visible, designed to stand out on camera. 

    Two Dresses & Headpieces — In her final three decades, in-house designer Angela Kelly modernized Queen Elizabeth II’s wardrobe with more modern tailoring and brighter colors. She designed the evening dress for the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony, along with an identical version worn by a stunt double who parachuted after meeting James Bond (Daniel Craig).
     

         
    Queen Elizabeth II: A Fashion Legacy
    Queen Elizabeth II’s style has long inspired contemporary designers. In 2018, she presented the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design to Richard Quinn during London Fashion Week. His collection playfully referenced her signature off-duty look through the use of silk scarves.

     
    After the Queen’s death on September 8, 2022, many designers honored her at London Fashion Week later that month. Among the most striking tributes — one that still resonates today — was Jonathan Anderson’s simple black T-shirt dress, printed with the words:

    'HER MAJESTY The Queen 1926–2022 Thank you.'

    Through fashion, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style shows the remarkable legacy the Queen built that will continue to influence designers and royal style for generations to come.
    www.royalcollection.org.uk ✆ +44 3031 237334
    Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA

    Queen Elizabeth II : Her Life in Style, Part I

          , ,   No comments

    The exhibition Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style at Buckingham Palace opened on April 10 and is already sold out through its scheduled closing on October 18.  If you missed it — or want a reason to sign up in case an extension is announced — here’s a glimpse of the largest exhibition ever dedicated to Her Majesty’s fashion, featuring more than 200 garments and accessories, including many previously unseen archival pieces:

    Childhood: The Beginning of British Couture
    The Royal Christening Robe (1841) — Commissioned by Queen Victoria, this robe has been worn by royal babies for over 130 years.
    Dresses & Bloomers (1935) — Simple cotton pieces, often in Liberty prints, formed part of the young princesses’ wardrobe.

    Princess Elizabeth: Fashion Forward
    Wedding Dress, Train & Veil (1947)
    Ceremonial & Military: The Role of Duty
    Coronation Dress (1953)
    Both designed by Norman Hartnell, who created many of the Queen’s most important garments over four decades. 
       

    Tailoring & Daywear: Style & Function
    Skirt suits defined Queen Elizabeth II's 1950s wardrobe; from the 1960s onward, she favored day dresses with coordinating coats and accessories in bright, signature colors.
     

    Millinery & Accessories: The Finishing Touch
    Coordinated hats, coats, dresses, and suits highlight her polished, instantly recognizable style.


    Queen Elizabeth II : Her Life in Style, Part II will trace looks from Off-Duty & Ready-to-Wear to Queen Elizabeth II: A Fashion Legacy.
    www.royalcollection.org.uk ✆ +44 3031 237334
    Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA

    Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition

          , ,   No comments

    Best 300 images from around the world


    Somerset House is hosting the 19th annual Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition through May 4th.

    Free to enter, the Awards  attracted 430,000 submissions from 200 countries. This year’s exhibition explores the themes of:

    • Absence — photos of lost memories, unseen identities, gaps in history, and empty landscapes;
    • Humans in the Stories — both individuality and collectivity, and how being part of a group shapes who someone is; and
    • Conflicted Territories — looks at places marked by conflict and division, showing how people and wildlife adapt to life shaped by competition for land and resources.
    The show spans architecture, documentary, portraiture, sport, still life, and wildlife highlighting core photographic elements — color, composition, light, shadow, shape, texture and tone that bring images to life.

    Some standout images include Study on Flying by María Fernanda García Freire, Waving Squirrel by Stan Bouman;, Fairy Mushroom Sporulations by Benjamin Pawlica, and Buzkashi by Todd Anthony.

    Ticket Prices:
    Adult: £18
    Student: £12

    Opening Hours:
    10 am – 7 pm

    Advance booking is recommended.

    Sony World Photography Awards
    ✆ +44 3333 202836 Strand, London WC2R 1LA

    Bluebells in Bloom

          ,   No comments

    The UK is home to nearly half of the world's bluebells. They are an ancient woodland indicator — and often thriving in British woodlands over 400 years old.

    Historically, sap from their bulbs was used as glue for bookbinding and when crushed, provided the starch to stiffen Elizabethan collars and sleeves.

    For a few weeks each spring, Chalet Wood in Epping Forest — less than 40 minutes from Waterloo Station — transforms into a sea of bluebells.  However, native bluebells are under threat due to habitat loss and climate change.

    English bluebells are easily to spot: deep violet color, strongly scented, with flowers that droop to one side of the stem.  In contrast, the non-native Spanish bluebells are upright, scentless; and threaten native species through cross-breeding and competition.

    Though primarily pollinated by bees, some 'steal' nectar by biting a hole in the base of the flower, avoiding pollination.

    Bluebells are fragile and can take up to seven years to bloom from a seed.  Even a single footstep can crush their leaves, preventing preventing photosynthesis and killing the plant.

    Fortunately, there are plenty of great photo spots along the winding marked pathways.

    Bonus : The walk from Wanstead Station is picturesque too with front gardens of camellias, cherry blossoms, hyacinth, poppies, and wisteria.

    Note : No bluebells were harmed in taking these photos :)

    Visit Japan . . .

          , ,   No comments
    . . . without leaving London

    Nestled in Holland Park, the Kyoto Garden is a an oasis away from the city’s bustle.  It was opened in 1991 by His Majesty King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and the Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, as a gift from Kyoto celebrating the friendship between Japan and the United Kingdom.

    Designed by respected Japanese landscape architect Shoji Nakahara — known for his deep understanding of traditional Japanese garden aesthetics and principles and the Kyoto Garden Association.  Every stone, plant, and water feature is carefully placed to create harmony, balance, and a sense of nature in miniature.

    Though relatively small, the space feels expansive — with every view resembling a living painting — a hallmark of Japanese garden design.

    Today, the Kyoto Garden remains one of the finest examples of authentic Japanese gardens outside Japan — an elegant blend of tradition, artistry, and nature.

    Tip : Plan your visit now until mid-April to see the cherry blossoms 
    — Japan’s national flower — in bloom.

    Whether you visit for spring cherry blossoms, autumn color, or simply a quiet moment, the Kyoto Garden provides a welcome retreat and invitation to slow down.